Qatar’s tourism sector has also been boosted by the extension of existing Hayya card holders and the relaunch of the Hayya platform, which is now the go-to portal for travellers who require a visa to enter Qatar.

Most destinations are on track to match or exceed their 2022 numbers, a testament to the relentless efforts of local authorities in transforming the region into a global tourism powerhouse.

International arrivals in 2023 have so far doubled compared to the levels seen pre-pandemic (1.053 million in 2019). By comparison, Dubai welcomed 8.5 million international visitors in the first half of this year.

Emirates and Ryanair announced bumper profits in May, while easyJet and British Airways both raised their profit expectations for the upcoming year.

The Middle East is the only place in the world where travel and tourism figures have surpassed pre-pandemic levels.

By the end of this year, Qatar will have over 40,000 hotel keys, 330,000 residential units and 6.5 million sqm of office space, according to a leading consultancy and advisory firm in the Middle East.

Qatar Airways has expanded its destinations to more than 170 destinations, in addition to 6 more destinations announced during 2023 ITB Berlin in March, as well as recovering 10 destinations that the carrier used to operate previously.

Qatar has blended modernity with heritage and tradition, making GCC visitors feel real joy while touring its different areas and places as the country has been keen to maintain its original cultural heritage identity.

The country has been optimistic about adding an immense number of visitors in the coming years as Qatar witnessed over two million tourists in November and December during the FIFA World Cup 2022.

The strong inflow of visitors was due to Qatar hosting the major sporting event – FIFA World Cup, first in the Middle East and the Arab world.